Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1887-04-28
CITY COUNCIL.
The M after of Laying Water Mains
Discussed. ii

Special meeting of council Wednesday
night. Mayor Graham in the chair. Pres-
ent-Aldermcn Clark. Dole, Driscoll'
Hughes Ingraham. Mueller, SeHldge
and Watson.
The following call for the meeting,
signed by the mayor and all the alder
men, was read by the clerk. H.
City council Of. the city Of jamestown,
Dakota.
GENTLEMES:-Ta notice that spe-
cial meeting OF the city, council is hereby
called to meet at the council chambers at
So'clock y. m. of this 18th day Of April,
1887, for the purpose Of appointing COM
nittee to consider and report upon the
advisability of laying water mains and
also for the further consideration OF an
ordinance to decide bv lot in case of tic
election.
Mayor Grall;,m called for opinions from
aldermen and citizens in regard to the
laying OF mains.
Messrs. Wm. NJ lloyd, and Johnson
Nickeus were called upon but had no
plan TO suggest.
-LGE. ~ Oh gave II tttCL w '1AS
experience and method Of the Hyde Park.
Chicago, water system and favored the
immediate laying Of mains.
Johnson Nicke;ls asked whether the
city Of jamestown can at this time eX-
pend any money He Thought an an
swer to this question would aid in ;n in
telligcnt discussion Of the matter :
Alderman Watson stated that "a 1hlm-
Ter OF the council thought that the prop
ertv along the mains should pay a part
of this expense and that general tax
should be levied upon the ablltting .prop-
erty. He had looked over the charter
and was surprised to find that there was
no authority. for such levy. The whole
matter was narrowed down to the fact
that the city would have to lay such
mains without a speci;;l& tax upon the
property most benefited by the mains.
An estimate had been made and it was
found that the city would have Of the
revenues Of 1887 due November 1st, be-
yonl the usual amount required for the
city government, $4,000 and this with no
greater increase in the tax levy than half
a mill. From the well to the corner Of
Fifth avenue and Pacific street wHs about
on,G09 feet and it .Was estimated that a
zen inch main conld be laid that distance
TOR about 5000. llr. Watson WIS in
favor. however, OF going slow with the
matter. lie believed in a business like
D0icv and would only lay necessary pipe
at first. increasing it in the future
MIR. Nickeus saw two serious objections
IN the way Of carrying ont this plan. He
doubted whether a revenue for the pur-
nose of paying an Indebtedness could be
legally anticipated and secondly thought
it not fair and equitable to lay mains up
Fifth avenue and tax tho whole OF the
city property to meet the expense
Alderman Hughes inquired whether
Mr.. Nickeyls could devise a plan by which
nlevy conld De made uponAl}e. property
upon each side Of the street through
which the mains are land.
Mr.. Nickeus thought there might be
plan by which such a method&coud be
carried out but WIS not prepared to pres
cht'One at present. 49,.
Anton Klaus, ST., found upon investl-
CATION that large majority OF cities let
franchises and kept their cities out Of
/.
city had the power to issue any moro Or
.lers since it was now over the limit and
incurred of the city attorney as to the
correctness Of the view.
Acting City Attorney Camp stated that
where there was a prescribed limit such
limit could not be exceeded and cited
decisions showing that a city cannot an
Iicipate a revenue.
Mr.. Greene Thought that some plan
should be devised to utilize the water.
The water is HOW running away and the
CITY is getting no Use from 1t. He favored
having mains in solno way.
Mr. klaus suggested that the contract
be let and the contractor allowed to own
the mains until they were paid for. The
,.ity would then keep out Of debt and the
contractor would virtually have a fran
chise until the city took. the matter OFT
his hands at a fixed price with interest at
ten per cent from the time'of the COM
pletion Of the work to the payment.
Alderman Clark moved that the mayor
apnoint committee Of three to report
plan Of laying water mulns before ac-
ton is taken by the council.
AldermanHughest thought that an eight
inch main was the one favored by the
council and that an estimate should be
maze upon SttCll SiAS'l illttlit'
Mr. Klaus thought that if the city
should advertise for bids for laying mains
the mains to be the property of the city
when the contract price and interest Is
maid. there would be no scarcity of bids
He also thought the amount which
would be saved upon insurance IN the
business portion was a sufficient induce
mcnt for move in the direction suggest
ed.
Mayor Graham thought the matter
should be put in more definite shape be
fore bids could be advertised for. lie
suggested that the size of the pipe and
the kind of hydrant etc, be definitely
designated.
Mr.. Klaus thought he could obtain
citizen who would join him in a PROPOSE
ton to lay the mains, give the city as
many hydrants as they wish, the city to
pay ten per cent interest upon the con-
tract price and allow them the privilege
of furnishing water to families in consid-
Grafton of guaranty to repair all leak
ages etc.
Alderman Clark's motion for the ap-
pointment of committee to report upon
plans etc, for laying the mains,was voted
on and carried.
nh -,I cro1 T.